Getting Started with After Effects
1. Tracking Animation
Tracking refers to the space between each letter in a word. You can animate this spacing to create smooth, dynamic text animations. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Start by creating a new composition in After Effects.
- Use the Type Tool to write your text and align it to the center.
- Select the text layer, click the drop-down arrow, and choose Animate > Tracking.
- Set keyframes to animate the tracking value from 0 to 100 for a smooth animation effect.
- Use Easy Ease (press F9) and adjust the speed in the Graph Editor for a polished, professional look.
- Add motion blur for an extra touch.
This creates a clean, increasing space between letters that can enhance your text’s readability and style.
2. Scrolling Animation
In a scrolling animation, text moves along a specific path. It’s perfect for intro sequences or scrolling title designs.
- Write your text, align it to the center, and create a path using the Pen Tool.
- After drawing the path, apply it to the text layer by selecting Mask 1 from the Path Options.
- Adjust the First Margin keyframes to control how the text moves along the path.
- Customize the speed in the Graph Editor and add reverse path or perpendicular to path settings to give the animation an extra dynamic feel.
This scrolling text is ideal for creating engaging, flowing animations for titles and intros.
3. Typewriter Animation
The typewriter effect simulates letters appearing one by one, as if typed. It’s great for creating realistic typing sequences in your videos.
- Start with your text layer and add the Opacity property through the Animate menu.
- Set the opacity to 0%, and animate the Range Selector to gradually reveal each letter.
- Adjust the keyframes to control the speed and smoothness of the animation.
- For added realism, create a cursor that appears alongside the typing letters.
This simple yet effective animation is perfect for showcasing information in a dramatic and readable way.
4. Bouncing Animation
Bouncing text adds a playful, energetic vibe to your designs. It’s ideal for creative projects or emphasizing key points in your video.
- Create your text and select Animate > Position to animate the text bouncing up and down.
- To create a more realistic bounce effect, add an Expression Selector with a bounce expression.
- Expression for Bounce:
// Parameters
delay = .1; // Delay for each letter
myDelay = delay * textIndex; // Delay for the specific letter
t = time - inPoint - myDelay; // Adjusted time considering delay
// Bounce effect
freq = 1; // Frequency of bounce
amplitude = 150; // Amplitude of bounce
endOffset = 10; // Upward movement at the end
// Basic bounce effect with upward offset
if (t >= 0) {
bounce = amplitude * Math.sin(freq * t * 2 * Math.PI) * Math.exp(-t * 2);
finalPos = bounce + (t > 1 ? -endOffset : 0); // Apply upward movement after 1 second
[value[0], value[1] - finalPos] // Apply the effect to Y position
} else {
value
}- Customize values like delay, frequency, and amplitude for the bounce, or change the text’s color to add more flair.
This effect adds a lively, dynamic feel to your text and works perfectly in both creative and professional settings.
In Summary
These four After Effects text animations—Tracking, Scrolling, Typewriter, and Bouncing—are essential techniques every motion designer should master. They are versatile, easy to create, and can elevate the quality of your motion graphics projects. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your skills, this tutorial will help you create smooth, dynamic, and eye-catching animations.
